Film supporting base for sound recording machines



W- 1945- J. M. IKUHLIK 2,382,161

FILM SUPPORTING BASE FOR SOUND RECORDING MACHINES Filed July 4, 1942 Patented Aug. 14, 1945 FILM SUPPORTING BASE FOR SOUND RECORDING mormuzs Jacob Mil es Kuhlik, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor t Hattie B. Kuhlik, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 4, 1942, Serial No. 449,711

Claims. (Cl. 274-11) This invention relates generally to sound recording and reproducing machines of the type wherein a strip of film is used and more particularly to an improved base for supporting the film I in operative engagement with the stylus.

It is common practice in such machines to support the strip of film on reels and pass the film over rollers and carry it up and guide it over a base adjacent the stylus. These bases come in standard sizes and are provided with edge flanges between which the film strip passes and is guided around the base. The strips are cut from a wide bolt of film material to fit the standard size bases but in cutting the strips irregularities in the width of the strip occur making the strip slightly wider at certain points therealong. The result is that when such defective strip passes over'the ordinary base between its guide edges, the strip buckles or becomes looped and often runs over the base or becomes jammed thus interfering with the smooth operation of the machine. It also often happens that the strip becomes shifted out of alignment with, the stylus.

Also in such machines, the angular relationship between the stylus and film base often needs adjustment.

Furthermore in such bases the traction afforded by the film engaging surface is very poor and often becomes damaged from constant use.

It is an object of my invention to eliminate the possibility of the film strip becoming buckled, jammed or displaced as it passes over the base as aforesaid.

Another object is to provide for the smooth travel of the film strip over the base.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting the angular relationship between the base and stylus. a

A still further object is to provide a base wit a resilient surface over which the film strip passes for greater traction.-

Still another object'is to provide means for changing or shifting the surface of the base from its point of contact with the stylus to prevent damage to such surface.

Still another object is to provide a base of this kind that is simple and inexpensive in construcl tion and positive in action.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a part of a record- I ing machine, embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of that portion, shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing my improved base, as mounted on a swinging arm.

Fig. 5 is a view of the swinging arm, detached from the machine, as seen from the front.

Fig. 6 is a detail side view, of the as one integral part.

Fig. 7 is a rear end view, of the base. v

Fig. 8 is a detail view, shown in section, of -a cupped sleeve, a slideable part of the base.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of a compression spring, used with the cupped sleeve of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail view, in section, of a guide tion is shown. To this plate 10, supported and spaced by tie bars II, is a rear plate I 2, between which, and the plate Ill, a feed screw shaft I3 is supported in bearings on which the sound unit, indicated at U, is pivoted to swing to and from the film and by rotation of the shaft [3 is movedacross the film band from the line to line position, so the stylus thereof may contact the film, on the base 3. v

The film, supplied from reels or otherwise (not shown), is directed over guide rollers in, a guided plane, preferably under a roller ll, located in form a body portion it", having at the outer end a fianged rim ll, forward of which a necked portion I8 is formed to provide space for the fingers to grip a" knurled headed knob l9, at the extreme outer end, by which the base may be rotated and set to. exact position with respect to the front leading edge of the film band, and the plane in which the film travels over the rollers H and II to engage the inner face ll of the rim l'l.

base, shown The body part li of the baseis of less width than the film band and is reduced at one end, forming here a shoulder l6 and a stem-like part or shaft I8, threaded at the front end, as at 20, by which it is supported, in the free end of a swinging arm S, in a threaded part II, that is split at its end as at 2|, and provided with a clamp screw 22, to clamp the stem in its adjusted position. The lower end of the arm is bored, as at 23, for a clamp screw 24, by which it is clamped to the frame panel l0, and the arm swings on this clamp screw 24, to shift the position of the base, to the front or rear of the stylus point, as will be understood.

Between the shoulder l6, and the threaded end of the stem IS, a cupped sleeve 25 is slideably mounted on the stem, in which a compression spring 28 is housed, the front end of which engages a washer 21, also slideably fitted to the shaft, the diameter of which, like the rim 11, provides a yielding guide for the rear side edge of the film band, which when the film band varies in width will be effective to always keep the film to the one and true side, the work side, against the fixed guide rim and allows sufficient play to prevent buckling or jamming of the film.

While I prefer to apply a resilient facing to the body of the base, such as leather, and here indicated at L, see Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 77, that is renewable to the stylus at different points in the rotation of the base, I do not limit my invention to the use thereof, as I may make contact directly with the solid metal face thereof, as in some cases this may be very desirable. I

In Fig. 11 I have shown a modified form of mount for my improved base, in which the swinging arm S, is omitted, and the base here with a slightly longer stem l9 is directly attached to the frame plate H1, in a threaded base It,

in which the threaded stem is regulated for adjustment, only for alignment of the face ll, of the rim H, with the front edge of the film, and plane in which the film travels.

The exact position of the bore, as indicated at IS, in Fig. 11, under the stylus point, where it contacts the film on the base, is readilydetermined. I

In the several forms of my improved base, with particular reference to Fig. l, the curved surface of the base, over which the film is directed, up-

ward over the base and again downward and under the drive roller l5, stiffens the curved portion of the film, whereby under this firm grip, the action of the stylus when cutting sound tracks is thereby materially improved.

The operation of the invention has been referred to in what has been above said, and it is believed the same will be entirely plain, without further description.

I do not limit myself to the particular details of construction as herein shown, as many minor changes may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a base for supporting a traveling film in operative .engagement with the stylus comprising a body portion, a shaft member extending from one end of the body portion, a shoulder portion between said body portion and shaft, a flange on the end of the body portion opposite said shaft, a movable flange on said shaft and positioned against said shoulder, and a spring between said cup-shaped member and movable flange for yieldingly pressing said movable flange toward said shoulder.

, 2. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a base for supporting a traveling film strip in operative engagement with the stylus comprising-a cylindrical body portion terminating at one end in areduced shaft portion, an integral shoulder portion between said body portion and shaft, an integral annular fiange portion at the opposite end of the body portion, a movable disc member on said shaft and positioned against said shoulder forming a yieldable flange, a cup-shaped member on said shaft'and a spring having one end I seated in said cup-shaped member and its other end impinging against said movable disc for yieldingly pressing said disc toward said shoulder, the outer end of said shaft being screw threaded for mounting the base on a support.

3. In a sound. recording and reproducing machine, a frame,-a sound unit having a stylus supported at an angle on said frame, a supporting arm on said frame with one of its ends positioned adjacent said stylus, said latter end having an opening, a base for supporting a strip of traveling film in operative engagement with said stylus comprising a cylindrical body portion, an integral portion, a cup-shaped member on said shaft, a

spring between said cup-shaped member and movable fiange for yieldingly pressing said movable fiange toward the body portion and a pivotal conneotion between said arm and frame for adjusting the angular relationship between said stylus and base. i r

4. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a frame, a sound unit having a stylus supported on said frame, a supporting arm on said frame, with one of its ends positioned adjacent said stylus, said latter .end being split and having an opening communicating with said split, a base for supporting a strip of'traveling film in operative engagement with the stylus comprising a cylindrical body portion, an integral shaft member extending from one end of said body portion and into the opening in said supporting arm, an integral fiange on the end of the body portion opposite said shaft, a movable flange on said shaft and positioned at the shaft end of the body, a cup-shaped member on said shaft, a spring between said cup-shaped member and movable fiange for yieldingly pressing said movable flange toward the body portion, a flexible cover on said body portion for engagin the film and means for releasably clamping the split portions of the arm whereby said base may be rotated to present a different portion of the flexible cover to said stylus.

5. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a frame, a sound unit having a stylus supported at an angle on said frame, a supporting arm on said frame with one of its ends positioned adjacentsaid stylus, said latter end being split and having an opening communicating with said split, a base for supporting a strip of traveling filmin operative engagement with the stylus comprising a cylindrical body portion, an integral shaft member extending from one end of ,said body portion and into the opening in said supporting arm, an integral flange on theendof the body portion opposite said shaft, a movablejfiange frame for adiustinl angular relationship between the stylus and fllm supporting base and means mrelessably clamping the split portions ofthearmwherebysaidbasemayberotatedto' 5 present a different portion of the flexible cover to said stylus.

JACOB-MILES xtmmx. 

